Stanley No. 3, Hotrod Edition

Okay, I’ll start by admitting one thing: I’m sure there’s a reason I haven’t seen this done before, probably because of a balance/center of gravity issue. Noted, but it solves a problem and I’m pleased the result.

A while back I got a #7 from Ebay for my restored plane collection along with my grandfather’s #5c. I figured I’d continue the theme and look for a #3 to restore as well. I got one, and received my next big lesson in hand planes: the number is not just indicative of the length, but every dimension. Try as I might, I couldn’t get my hands around the #3’s stock handle without cutting my fingers all up on the blade assembly. I looked up handle templates and found some from Lee Valley that were the same size as the original so I wondered if I could modify them. I came up with the idea of basically adding a panel saw handle off the back and leaving the retaining bolt in place. I drilled some relief holes along a 5/4 piece of figured walnut I had lying around, bandsawed the rest and shaped the result with a palm router and rotary tool. Finish is wipe-on poly. After sharpening the blade, my #3 cuts as well as any of my planes and while the handle changes the feel of the plane, it’s definitely better than bruised knuckles.